Drop away arrow rest

ABSTRACT

A drop away arrow rest including an arrow support arm and a reset button operable to convert the rest from a first mode, in which a shaft is rotationally fixed relative to the support arm, to a second mode, in which the shaft is rotationally decoupled relative to the support arm. The reset button can be manually moveable to convert the rest from the first mode in which the support arm can be in a rest position, to the second mode in which the support arm can be in the support position. The rest can include a reset bias member that selectively moves the shaft, and a support arm bias member that selectively moves the support arm to the support position and/or the rest position. The rest can include containment arms to offer full, surrounding arrow containment. A readily replaceable bumper can join with the support arm and/or containment arms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an archery drop away arrow rest and arelated method of operation.

Most archery bows are equipped with an arrow rest that holds an arrowbefore it is shot from the bow. One common arrow rest is referred to asa “drop away” arrow rest. This rest precisely and accurately positionsthe arrow when the bow (and thus, the bowstring) is at full draw, butdrops rapidly away from the arrow upon release of the bowstring.Accordingly, the rest does not contact the arrow for its full length orthe arrow's fletching and divert the arrow from its intended trajectoryas the arrow is shot from the bow.

A variety of drop away arrow rests exist. One type of rest is a forwardfalling rest. A forward falling rest typically includes (a) an arrowsupport that holds the arrow shaft in a loaded position at full draw andsubsequently drops forward or falls away forward (away from thearcher/bowstring) to a relaxed position upon release of the bowstring;(b) a cord that moves the arrow support to the loaded position; and (c)a spring that moves the arrow support to the relaxed position uponrelease of the bowstring. In moving between a loaded or cocked positionand a relaxed position, this rest pivots away from the archer/bowstringand downward, rotating about a horizontal axis that is itselfperpendicular to the axis of a supported arrow.

Another type of drop away rest is a C axis rest, which is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 7,597,095 to Grace. This type of rest includes an arrowsupport that rotates in a plane that generally is orthogonal to an axisof an arrow supported by the arrow support. With its C axis movement,the arrow support rapidly and consistently drops away from the arrowensuring consistent launch and flight.

An issue with many drop away rests is that they are configured so thatthe arrow support normally is positioned in a rest or down position whenthe bow is undrawn. The arrow support raises to engage the arrow whenthe bow is drawn. Accordingly, until the bow is drawn, the rest does notengage the arrow. Further, sometimes the arrow does not properly seat inthe support as it engages the arrow upon drawing. Another issue withmany drop away rests is that they many times do not offer fullcontainment of the arrow. Accordingly, the arrow potentially can falloff the rest. Yet another issue, particularly with regard to forwardfalling rests, is that if not properly adjusted, they can bounce back,upward to a support position as the arrow is being shot. This can affectarrow flight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problems are overcome by an archery drop away arrowrest including a manually depressible “reset” button which, whenactuated, decouples components from an arrow support arm so that thesupport arm can move, optionally to a support position and support anarrow.

In one embodiment, the arrow rest includes an arrow support arm and areset button operable to convert the rest from a first mode to a secondmode. The rest also can include a shaft joined with the reset button. Inthe first mode, the shaft can be rotationally fixed relative to thesupport arm. In the second mode the shaft can be rotationally decoupledrelative to and/or from the support arm. Thus the support arm can moveor rotate independently from the shaft.

In another embodiment, the reset button can be manually moveable toconvert the rest from the first mode, in which the support arm can be ina rest position, to the second mode, in which the support arm can be inthe support position.

In still another embodiment, the rest can include a reset bias memberthat selectively moves the shaft, and a support arm bias member thatselectively moves the support arm. The reset bias member optionally canselectively rotate the shaft relative to the support arm when thesecomponents are rotationally decoupled from one another. The support armbias member optionally can selectively rotate the support arm,independent of the shaft, moving it to a support position, oralternatively to a rest position.

In yet a another embodiment, the reset button can be coupled to a cordwhich is further coupled to a moveable component on the bow, forexample, a bow limb, up power cable and/or down power cable. The cordcan selectively exert a force on the reset button so that it maintainsthe shaft in a desired rotational orientation. When the cord's force isreduced or removed, for example, when the moveable of component of thebow moves, the reset button can be urged to rotate or move, therebyoptionally engaging or disengaging the shaft with or from the supportarm so that the shaft and support arm can be rotationally fixed to, orrotationally decoupled from, one another respectively.

In even another embodiment, the rest can include a first containment armpositioned generally above the support arm when the support arm is inthe support position. With the first containment arm, an arrow supportedby the support arm in the support position can be substantiallysurrounded by at least one of the support arm and the containment arm.Thus, the arrow is at least one of impaired and prevented from fallingoff the support arm in the support position.

In a further embodiment, the rest can be configured so that the supportarm is joined with a first engagement member and the shaft is joinedwith a second engagement member, or vice versa. The second engagementmember can engage the first engagement member to rotationally fix theshaft relative to the support arm when the rest is in the first mode.The second engagement member can disengage the first engagement memberto rotationally decouple the shaft relative to the support arm when therest is in the second mode so that the support arm can rotate freelyrelative to the shaft.

In still a further embodiment, the rest can include a rest axis aboutwhich the support arm is rotatable. Optionally, the rest axis can beparallel to an axis of an arrow supported on the support arm when thesupport arm is in the support position. Further optionally, the restaxis can be substantially perpendicular to an axis of an arrow supportedon the support arm when the support arm is in the support position. Evenfurther optionally, the support arm can be movable in a vertical plane,without rotating about an axis, but rather moving substantially onlyvertically.

In yet a further embodiment, a method of operating a drop away arrowrest is provided. The method can include maintaining the support arm ina lowered, rest position by way of a cord exerting a cord force on thereset button, which is translated to the support arm. The support armand shaft can be in the first mode described above in this step. Inanother step, the support arm can be raised to the support or ready tofire position by, either, manually and movably operating the resetbutton and/or drawing the bowstring. Operating the reset button, forexample by a user manually depressing, sliding or rotating it, convertsthe rest to the second mode, with the shaft rotationally decoupledrelative to and/or from the support arm. Thus, the support arm can moveor rotate independently from the shaft. In another step, the bow can bedrawn, and the cord force removed or reduced so that the shaft andsupport arm attain the configuration of the first mode. When the bow isfired, the arrow moves, and the cord applies the cord force again, whichrotates the shaft and thus the connected support arm to the restposition, out of the way of the arrow's path. Optionally, the cord forceadds tension back to the reset bias member.

The drop away arrow rest of the current embodiments provides a simpleand efficient mechanism to support a ready to shoot arrow relative to abow, and rapidly move the support arm of the rest out of the way of thearrow as it is shot. The reset button and related components can quicklyand easily set the support arm in the support position so that an arrowis readied to shoot. The rest also utilizes movement of other bowcomponents to re-engage internal rest components so that when the bow isshot, the support arm moves efficiently out of the way. Where the restincludes a support arm that moves about an axis perpendicular to theaxis of an arrow, or a vertically moving support arm or bounce back ofthe support arm and interference with arrow flight, can be eliminated.Where the rest includes one or more containment arms, it can impair orprevent the arrow from falling off the rest.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbe more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detaileddescription of the invention and the drawings.

Before the embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to thedetails of construction and the arrangement of the components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of beingpracticed or being carried out in alternative ways not expresslydisclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology used herein are for the purpose of description and shouldnot be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” andvariations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter andequivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.Further, enumeration may be used in the description of variousembodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumerationshould not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific orderor number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construedas excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps orcomponents that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps orcomponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bow equipped with an arrow rest of acurrent embodiment, with a support arm in a support position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the arrow rest, with the support arm ina support position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the arrow rest;

FIG. 3A is a close up front view of a support arm body for the supportarm of the arrow rest;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the arrow rest taken along lines 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the support arm and containment arms;

FIG. 5 is a rear sectional, perspective view of the support arm in arest position and a reset button rotationally fixed to the support arm;

FIG. 6 is a front sectional, perspective view of the support arm in arest position and a reset button rotationally fixed to the support arm;

FIG. 6A is a close up front view of a support arm body for the supportarm of the arrow rest with an engagement member engaged with the supportarm body;

FIG. 6B is a close up side sectional view of the support arm body forthe support arm of the arrow rest with an engagement member engaged withthe support arm body;

FIG. 7 is a rear sectional, perspective view of the support arm in asupport position and the reset button and an associated shaftrotationally disconnected from the support arm;

FIG. 8 is a front sectional, perspective view of the support arm in asupport position and the reset button rotationally disconnected from thesupport arm;

FIG. 8A is a close up front view of the support arm body for the supportarm of the arrow rest with the engagement member disengaged from thesupport arm body;

FIG. 8B is a close up side sectional view of the support arm body forthe support arm of the arrow rest with the engagement member disengagedfrom the support arm body;

FIG. 9 is a front sectional, perspective view of the support arm in asupport position with a force cord being slack as the bow is drawn sothat the engagement member re-engages the support arm body of thesupport arm;

FIG. 9A is a close up front view of the engagement member re-engagingthe support arm body of the support arm so these components arerotationally fixed relative to one another;

FIG. 10 is a front sectional, perspective view of the arrow rest in arest position with the force cord under tension again as or after anarrow is shot from the bow, with the engagement member re-engaging thesupport arm body of the support arm to move the support arm to the restposition;

FIG. 10A is a close up front view of the engagement member with theengagement member re-engaging the support arm body of the support arm tomove the support arm to the rest position;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a first alternative embodiment ofthe arrow rest;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of a second alternative embodiment ofthe arrow rest; and

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of a third alternative embodiment ofthe arrow rest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENTS I. Construction andComponents

A drop away arrow rest constructed in accordance with a currentembodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 and generally designated 10. Thedrop away arrow rest 10 can be joined with a bow 90, and in particular,a bow riser 92. In general, the rest 10 is configured so that itssupport arm 20 engages and supports an arrow 99 that is nocked on thebowstring 94, as shown in FIG. 1. The support arm 20 is in the supportposition when the arrow 99 is ready to shoot. The support arm 20 dropsout of the way as the arrow is shot as shown in FIG. 5. The supportarm's position can be reset from at rest to support automatically uponuser activation of the reset button 40. The operation of the rest willbe described in further detail below.

For purposes of disclosure, the drop-away arrow rest is described inconnection with an archery bow, however the rest is well suited for usewith any other type of projectile shooting device. As shown in FIG. 1,the rest 10 is mounted above a handle 93 of the bow in a locationcorresponding to the center of the bowstring 94. The bow 90 isillustrated as including an upper limb 95, but of course it alsoincludes a lower limb which is not shown for simplicity. The rest 10 canbe attached via a cord 96 to a component of the bow, for example a limb95 (or more particularly a limb axle 97, as shown in FIG. 1), an upcable, a down cable or any other component of the bow that moves uponshooting and/or drawing the bow. These components and their functionwill be described in further detail below.

The rest 10 can include a primary mounting bracket 12 which can bedirectly fastened to the bow riser 92 with a fastener. The primarymounting bracket 12 can define an aperture or slot 12S which thefastener can be placed and attached to the riser. The mounting bracket12 can also include a set screw 12T that can assist in further securingthe primary bracket 12 to the riser in a desired position. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the rest 10 can include an intermediate bracket 13 whichcan provide elevation and windage adjustment mechanism, whereby the restcan be adjusted vertically and horizontally to tune the rest and ensurethe flight path and the stability of the arrow during flight ismaximized.

For elevation adjustment, the intermediate bracket 13 can include agenerally vertical slot 13S or aperture. The slot can accommodate afastener 13F that threads into corresponding holes in the primarymounting bracket 12. By adjusting the intermediate bracket up or down,and then tightening the fastener 13F, a user can selectively orient theslot and fastener relative to one another to provide a desired elevationsetting of the rest.

The intermediate bracket 13 can include a windage adjustment mechanismfor adjusting the rest horizontally. The bracket 13 can mate with ahousing 30 having a horizontal slot or aperture 13H. Fastener 13S can bethreaded into a corresponding threaded hole defined by the intermediatebracket 13 to tighten and fix the orientation of housing 30 relative tothe bracket 13. By adjusting the housing 30 left or right, and thentightening the fastener 13F, a user can selectively orient the slot andfastener relative to one another to provide a desired windage setting ofthe rest.

Generally, adjustments are made for wind and/or elevation using thedifferent fasteners and respective slots. The fasteners can be tightenedor otherwise adjusted to fix the relative orientation of restcomponents. Of course, the windage and elevation adjustment mechanismsdescribed above can be substituted with any other desirable windage andelevation adjustment construction to provide adjustment and modificationof the arrow rest and its components.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rest 10 includes a housing 30. Thehousing 30 can enclose or house at least one or more of the internalcomponents of the rest. The housing 30 can define an internalcompartment 31 within which one or more of the other components of therest are disposed. The housing 30 can define a support arm window 32within which the arrow support arm 20 moves. The support arm window 32can be bounded by upper and lower stops 33U and 33L which can limit themovement of the support arm 20 to the support position, as with stop33U, or limit the movement of the support arm 20 to the lowered or restposition, as with the lower stop 33L. Limiting of the movement isachieved when the portion of the support arm that moves within thewindow engages or bumps the respective upper and lower stops 33U and 33Lof the window 32.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3, the housing 30 can be joined with afirst containment arm 36. The first containment arm 36 can be structuredso that it extends above the support arm 20 when the support arm 20 isin the support position, for example as shown in FIG. 2. Cooperatively,the support arm 20 and the containment arm 36 can form an envelope,which generally surrounds the arrow 99, 360° around the arrow as shownin FIG. 1. With this envelope formed by the support arm and thecontainment arm, the arrow is fully contained within the rest.Therefore, accidental or unintentional dislodgement of the arrow fromthe support arm is impaired and/or prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first containment arm 36 can be attachedto the housing 30 via a containment arm fastener 36S, which can be inthe form of a screw that is threaded into a corresponding hole in thehousing. Of course, the first containment arm 36 can be formed as anintegral part of the housing 30 if desired.

The rest 10 also can include a second containment arm 37. The secondcontainment arm can extend outwardly and generally below the support arm20 when the support arm 20 is in the support position as shown in FIGS.1 and 2. The second containment arm 37 can extend downwardly under thearrow when the support arm 20 is in the support position and/or the restposition. Generally, the second containment arm 37 can offer additionalcontainment of the arrow to keep it above the riser shelf and handle ofthe archery bow.

As shown in FIG. 3, one or more of the support arm 20, first containmentarm 36 and second arm containment arm 37 can be outfitted with a durableelastomeric, synthetic, polymeric and/or composite material 38. Thismaterial 38, also referred to as a bumper, can reduce friction betweenthe arrow and the respective rest components such as the arms, and/orcan attenuate noise and vibration caused by the arrow engaging therespective components. Referring to FIG. 4A, the material can beconnected to or otherwise installed in the arms of the rest, such as thesupport arm 20 and/or containment arms 35, 37. The bumper 38 can beattached to the inner surfaces of the support arm 20 and/or thecontainment arms 36, 37 which face toward the arrow 99. Attachment ofthe bumper to the arm, whether the support arm and/or containment arms,can be provided in a variety of manners. In one example, the support arm20 and/or containment arms 36, 37 can define a female connector 20F, 36Fand/or 37F, respectively. The bumper 38 can include a male connector38M. The female connector can be in the form of a groove, slot, apertureor recess. The groove can be continuous along a longitudinal length ofthe respective arm, or optionally, although not shown, can beintermittently disposed along an arm. The female connector can bedisposed between forward and rearward surfaces of the arm within whichit is defined, for example, forward surface 20A and rearward surface 20Bof the support arm 20. The female connector can be defined in uppersurface of an arm, for example, upper surface 20U of the support arm 20.The same construction can be used for the female connector in thecontainment arms 36, 37.

The bumper 38, as mentioned above, can include a male portion 38M, whichcan be in the form of a projection, such as a ridge. The ridge canextend along a longitudinal length of the bumper 38, or can beintermittently disposed along the bumper. Generally, the ridge 38M isconfigured to physically mirror, mimic and/or interfit at least aportion of the female connector 20F, 36F, 37F. The ridge or maleconnector 38M can be conformed so that when it is placed within therespective female connectors 20F, 36F, 37F, it physically andstructurally interlocks the bumper with the respective arm. In somecases, an adhesive may not be included between the bumper and the armsto provide adequate securement. However, optionally, in some other casesuse of cement or other attachment devices can be provided.

Generally, the male member 38M snapfits or fits by a friction fit withinthe female connectors 20F, 36F and 37F. The bumper 38 can also includeforward and rearward 38F and 38R flanges or tab portions that extendforwardly and rearwardly of the male connector 38M to cover all or partsof the upper surfaces of the respective arm. Optionally, although thebumper is described as including the male connector and the arms aredescribed as including the female connector, these structures can bereversed yet still operate similarly.

As mentioned above, the bumper 38 can be constructed from an elastomericor otherwise other readily manually deformable material. Generally, thebumper can be constructed to permit a user to readily remove the bumper38 from the respective arms when that bumper becomes worn. The user canthen install a new or different bumper by snapping it into place orsliding it within the respective arm, with the male connector and femaleconnector sliding or moving relative to one another. Optionally, a usercan change out the bumper or material to provide a change of color oraesthetics, or to maintain or alter the performance of the bumper.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rest 10 includes a reset button 40. Thehousing 30, and thus the primary mounting bracket and/or intermediatemounting bracket, is joined with a reset button 40. Although describedherein as a “button” the actual structure of this component couldresemble a lever, a slide, a cam, a reset button, a rotating knob, orany other feature that is manually graspable and/or able to bemanipulated to translate movement from the user to components of therest. Further, although the reset button 40 is referred to as a “reset”button, it should be noted that it does not necessary set componentsagain. For example, it could set components for a first time. It couldalso decouple and/or “unset” certain components as desired.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the reset button 40 generally includes agroove 41. This groove is shaped and configured to accommodate a cord 96which is attached at an opposite end to a moveable bow component, suchas a bow limb 95, axle 97, an up cable, a down cable or any othercomponent of the bow that might move as the bow is drawn and/or shot.The groove as illustrated can circumferentiate the button. The groovealso can be equipped with or utilized with a capture screw 41S. Thecapture screw 41S can capture and secure an end of the cord 96 so thatthat end is attached in a fixed orientation relative to the button 40.Although referred to as an “cord,” this term is meant to encompass anytype of connector, such as a string, wire, web, rubber band, hydraulic,solid or other linkage joined with a desired component of the bow, suchas the limb 95, axle 97, or any up or down power cables or othermoveable components of the bow. Generally, the cord is adapted toincrease or decrease in tension when the moveable components of the bowmove, which in turn affects movement of the reset button 40 andcomponents of the rest 10 as described further below.

The reset button 40 is joined with the shaft 42. The shaft 42 and resetbutton 40 can be integrally formed. Alternatively, they can be joinedwith a pin 43 that projects through a hole 46 in an end of the shaft 42adjacent the reset button 40. Generally, the shaft and reset button canbe fixedly coupled so that they move in unison together, rotationallyand/or linearly. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the shaft 42 and resetbutton 40 can rotate about and slide or move linearly along the restaxis RA. The rest axis RA as shown in the current embodiment isconfigured so that it is parallel to an arrow 99 when the arrow 99 isdisposed on the support arm 20 in the support position. Of course, theshaft and reset button can be oriented in other configurations asexplained in the alternative embodiments below.

The shaft 42 can be of a generally cylindrical shape, however, it mayhave other geometric cross sections, for example, it may be square,triangular or polygonal, depending on the particular application. Theshaft 42 can be rigid. The shaft can be joined or be manufacturedintegral with a second engagement member 44. As shown, the secondengagement member 44 can include one or more tabs, wings or flaps thatextend outwardly away from a longitudinal axis of the shaft 42.Generally, these elements project outwardly farther than the remainderof the outer surface of the shaft 42. The first engagement member 44 canbe configured to correspond in shape to the second engagement member 23associated with the support arm body 22 and/or generally the support arm20, as explained further below.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shaft 42 can be outfitted with an O-ring45 or other bumper element. This O-ring can be disposed between thesecond engagement member 44 and the first engagement member 23. As anexample, the O-ring can be disposed between flats of the secondengagement member 44 and the recess of the first engagement member 23.The O-ring can prevent cracking or excessive wear of the secondengagement member 44 when it engages the support arm body 22 and/orfirst engagement member 23. It also can dampen the vibration caused bythe engagement and disengagement of the engagement members relative toone another. Optionally, the O-ring can be replaced with a rubber washeror an elastomeric inlay disposed in the first engagement member 23 orotherwise associated with the second engagement member 44.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the support arm body 22 is joined withthe support arm 20 which projects laterally therefrom. The support armbody 22 defines or includes the first engagement member 23 and a hole24. The shaft 42 projects through the hole 24. Generally, the supportarm body 22 is rotatable about the shaft 42 when the respectiveengagement members are disengaged.

The first engagement member and second engagement member 23 and 44,respectively, can be configured so that when the second engagementmember 44 is disposed within or otherwise engages the first engagementmember 23. For example, when the flats or wings of member 44 aredisposed in the recess of member 23, those flats or rings contact and/orengage the respective sidewalls 23S of the first engagement member 23such that the shaft 42, support arm body 22 and support arm 20 are fixedrotationally relative to one another. As another example, theseengagement members each contact one another so that the shaft 42 rotatesthe support arm body 22, and the support arm 20 accordingly rotates inunison with the shaft 42, generally about the rest axis RA.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the rest 10 can include a shaft mount body 50.This shaft mount body can be mounted via fasteners 50F to the housing30. Generally, the shaft mount body 50 can be immovable and/ornon-rotatable relative to the housing 30. The shaft mount body candefine a shaft hole 51 through which the shaft is rotationally received.The shaft hole 51 can be lined with a bushing 52. The bushing 52 can beconstructed from a low friction material, such as a metal, a composite,or a polymeric material that is durable enough to withstand multiplerotations and sliding movements of the shaft 42.

When installed in the housing 30, the shaft mount body 50 generallycaptures the support arm 20 and support arm body 22 as shown in FIGS. 4and 5. This is so that the support arm 20 can generally selectivelyrotate about the shaft 42 in a constrained space so that it does notwobble, and generally transitions smoothly from the support position tothe rest position and vice versa. The rest 10 also includes first andsecond bias members, 55 and 53 respectively. Because the second biasmember connects to the support arm, it will be described first.

Between the support arm body 22 and the shaft mount body 50, a secondbias member 53, also referred to as a support arm spring, is disposed.This support arm spring 53 can be in the form of any conventional springor elastomeric element that can temporarily store energy and transfer itto other components. The support arm spring 53 generally is adapted toselectively rotate the support arm under certain conditions as explainedbelow. As illustrated, the bias member 53 is in the form of a coilspring, but of course a leaf spring or elastomeric element can besubstituted for it.

Optionally, the support arm spring 53 can include end tangs 53T whichproject from opposite sides of the spring. These tangs 53T can fit intothe respective tang holes 54 on the support body 22 and the shaft mountbody 50. These tang holes 54 can be offset from one another so that whenthe tangs 53T are placed in the respective holes and the shaft mountbody 50 is secured to the housing, the support arm spring is wound orcoiled so that it urges the support arm 20 to the rest position, forexample, shown in FIG. 6. Generally, the ends of the spring 53, and inparticular the tangs 53T, can be mounted in fixed locations on therespective support arm body 22 and shaft mount body 50 so that thespring can attain a coiled and energy storing configuration to effectmovement of the support arm.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the rest 10 also includes a first bias member 55,which also may be referred to as a reset spring. The reset spring can beidentical to the support arm spring, in structure and generally in theform of a coil spring. Of course, as with the second bias memberdescribed above, this coil spring can be replaced with any other springconstruction, such as a leaf spring, an elastomeric element or otherlike structure. The reset spring 55 and the support arm spring 53 can beseparate and distal from one another. They can be constructed asseparate independent springs that operate and store energy and/or exertforces separately and independent from one another.

The reset spring in general is adapted to selectively rotate the shaft42 The reset spring also can be compressible and expandable along therest axis RA as shown in FIG. 4. In this manner, when a user manuallydepresses the reset button 40 with a force F, that force F compressesthe reset spring. As the spring is compressed, the shaft, which isfixedly attached to the reset button, can move along the rest axis RA.In so doing, the second engagement member 44 can disengage the firstengagement member 23. As a result, the support body 22 and support arm20 can be decoupled rotationally from the shaft 42 and can rotate. Dueto the forces exerted by the support arm spring 53 they accordinglyrotate to the support or up position, for example as shown in FIGS. 1and 8.

Like the support arm spring, the reset spring can be generally fixedlymounted to the shaft mount body 50, but instead of being mounted to thesupport arm 20 the reset spring 55 is mounted fixedly to the resetbutton 40. This fixed mounting can be accomplished via the tangs 55Tinterfitting within tang holes 56 and/or 54 on the respective button 40and shaft mount body 50. These holes may be offset from one another sothat the reset spring is coiled or uncoiled, or otherwise placed undertension that can rotate the reset button 40 and the attached shaft 42,and corresponding second engagement member 44 as described furtherbelow.

The primary mounting bracket, intermediate mounting bracket, housing,support arm, shaft mount body, reset button, containment arms and othercomponents of the rest 10 can be constructed from a variety of metals,plastics or other synthetic materials or other combinations of theforegoing. Optionally, the components can be constructed using casting,CNC machining and/or injection mold processes.

II. Operation

The operation of the rest 10 will now be described in connectionconjunction with FIGS. 4-10. Operation of the rest can begin when therest 10 is configured with the support arm 20 in its lowered or restposition, for example as shown at FIGS. 4-6. In this configuration, thereset button 40 and associated shaft 42, and the second engagementmember 44 are configured so that the second engagement member 44 is inengagement with and/or contacts the first engagement member 23 of thesupport arm body 22. Accordingly, the shaft and reset button arerotationally fixed relative to the support arm body 22 and the supportarm 20. Thus, any movement of the support arm would likewise translateinto rotation of the shaft and/or the reset button and vice versa.

The interaction of the first and second engagement members is betterillustrated with reference to FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B. As shown there, thesecond engagement member 44, in the form of a flat, is locked andinterfits within the first engagement member 23, which is shown as arecess of a corresponding shape. When these two members interlock, thereset button, shaft and support arm body and support arm can move inunison, that is, they rotate together about the rest axis RA. In thisconfiguration, the reset spring 55 effectively exerts a force FR shownin FIGS. 5 and 6B. This force FR translates to the shaft 42 and thesecond engagement member 44 to draw the second engagement member 44 intoengagement with the first engagement member 23.

This configuration of the rest 10 can correspond to the status of therest 10 immediately after an arrow is shot from the bow. When in thisconfiguration, the support arm 20 generally is not in position tosupport an arrow for shooting. Accordingly, if an archer desires toshoot an arrow using the arrow rest, the support arm 20 should be raisedto the support position shown for example in FIG. 7.

This can be accomplished different manners. In one, the user can exert aforce F as shown in FIG. 4 on the reset button 40. This force compressesthe reset spring 55. The reset button 40, the shaft 42, andcorresponding second engagement member 44, correspondingly move linearlyalong the rest axis RA. After the second engagement member 44 issufficiently disengaged from the first engagement member 23, the firstengagement member 23, the shaft 42 and reset button 40 are effectivelyrotationally decoupled or disconnected from the support arm body 22 andthe support arm 20. With this decoupling, the engagement members nolonger restrain movement between the support arm and the reset button.Accordingly, the support arm spring 53 urges the support arm 20 to thesupport position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As this occurs, the firstengagement member 23 and second engagement member 44 rotate relative toone another as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. More particularly as shown inFIG. 8A, the support arm body 22 and associated support arm 20 rotate indirection SR relative to the engagement member 44. The engagement member44 and shaft 42 and rest button 40 can generally remain in a fixedrotational orientation, that is, these components do not rotate aboutthe reset axis RA.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the actuation of the reset button 40 alsooperates to form a closed envelope 98 around the arrow 99. As anexample, depressing the reset button 40 releases or disengages thesupport arm 20 and respective arm body 22 so that the support arm spring53 can urge the support arm upward and achieve an arrow trappingenvelope generally around the arrow 99. Generally, the reset button 40can automatically actuate the rest so that the arrow trapping envelope98 is formed around the arrow 99, with the arrow impaired from orprevented from falling off the support arm 20 when the support arm is inthe support position shown in FIG. 7.

With the arrow in the support position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, anarcher may then proceed to draw the archery bow. As this occurs, thearrow support arm 20 remains in the support position as shown in FIGS. 7and 8 as the arrow 99 slides relative to the support arm 20.

As mentioned above, there is another manner in which the support arm 20can be moved to the support position. In this manner, a user draws thebow, with the support arm 20 initially in the lowered or rest position,for example, as shown in FIG. 6. As the bow is drawn, the secondengagement member 44 is engaged with and trapped within the firstengagement member 23. As the bow is drawn, the cord force CF (FIG. 6) isreduced or eliminated. With the cord force CF reduced or eliminated, thesupport arm spring 53 effectively urges the support arm 20 to thesupport position. Thus, when the bow is drawn with the support arm 20initially in the rest position, the rest will automatically lift thesupport arm 20 to the support position.

With the manners in which the support arm 20 can be moved to the supportposition described, operation of the rest 10 upon drawing and shootingthe bow will now be described in further detail with reference to FIGS.9, 9A, 10 and 10A. Generally, when the bow is drawn, one of the bow'smoveable components, such as the limb 95 or up and down cables, moves aswell. With this movement, the component moves closer to the rest 10, andthe cord force CF exerted by the cord 96 on the rest is reduced oreliminated. Upon elimination of this cord force CF, the storedrotational energy in the reset spring 55 rotates the reset button 40 andthe shaft 42 along with the associated second engagement member 44 inthe direction T as shown in FIG. 9A. When this occurs, and after apreselected amount of rotation, the second engagement member 44 engagesor otherwise mates with or nests in the first engagement member 23.

The reset spring 55 also exerts a linear force LF (FIG. 9) on the resetbutton 40. In turn this pushes the reset button and the shaft and theengagement member 44 in the direction RO. This force LF also can assistin further locking or ongoing the second engagement member 44 relativeto the first engagement member 23. With these two engagement membersengaged with one another, the support arm body 22, shaft 42 and resetbutton 40 are effectively rotationally fixed again relative to oneanother.

As shown in FIG. 10, after the arrow is released, the moveable bowcomponents such as the limb 95, up or down cables again exert a cordforce CF+ on the reset button 40. When the cord force CF+ is exerted onthe reset button, it rotates the reset button 40, the shaft 42, theengagement member 44 and thus the support arm body 22 and support arm 20in direction R. Upon such rotation, the support arm 20 also drops indirection D away from the arrow 99 so that the arrow is no longersupport by the support arm 20 as the arrow exits the bow. After thesupport arm 20 is returned to the rest position as shown in FIG. 10. Therest can be actuated to return the support arm 20 to the supportposition in the manners described above.

III. First Alternative Embodiment

A first alternative embodiment of the rest is shown in FIG. 11 andgenerally designated 110. This rest 110 is substantially identical infunction and structure to the rest described in the current embodimentabove with a few exceptions. For example, the rest 110 includes amounting bracket 112 and a housing 130. The housing 130 houses and isjoined with a reset button 140. The rest button 140 is joined with arest spring member which is joined with a shaft mount body and a supportarm spring within the housing 130. These structures can be identical tothose described in connection with the current embodiment of the rest 10above. The rest 110, however, is set up to include a support arm 120that includes a forward extending V-portion 120A and a rearwardextending V-portion 120B. These portions disengage the arrow 99 uponrotation of the shaft 133 in direction R2. This rest has a rest axisRA-1 that is generally perpendicular to an axis or length of the arrow99. This contrasts the current embodiment above which includes a restaxis RA that is parallel to the axis or length of the arrow 99. Further,the support arm 120 and its portions 120A and 120B rotate in a plane P1that is substantially parallel to a plane P2 in which the button 140rotates. The operation and the resetting of this rest is similar to thatof the embodiments noted above.

IV Second Alternative Embodiment

A second alternative embodiment of the arrow rest as shown in FIG. 12and generally designated 210. This embodiment is similar to that of thecurrent embodiment above in structure and function with a fewexceptions. For example, the rest 210 includes a reset button 240, ahousing 230 and a shaft 233 extending from the housing 230. The supportarm 220 can include a V or U-shaped portion 220A. This embodimentdiffers from that of the current embodiment of the rest 10 describedabove in that the rest axis RA-1′ is generally perpendicular to thelength or longitudinal axis of the arrow 99, similar to the firstalternative embodiment described above. Unlike the first alternativeembodiment above, however the support arm 220 includes a U or V-shapedlauncher. The launcher moves from the support position to a down or restposition by falling forward in the direction of arrow R3. In turn, thismoves the launcher out of the way, and out of contact with the arrow 99after it is initially guided and set along a trajectory by that launcher220A. The operation and the resetting of this rest is similar to that ofthe embodiments noted above.

V. Third Alternative Embodiment

A third alternative embodiment of the arrow rest is shown in FIG. 13 andgenerally designated 310. This arrow rest is similar in structure andfunction to the current embodiment described above with a fewexceptions. For example, this arrow rest 310 is configured so that thesupport arm 220 drops generally vertically in the direction of the arrowunder the arm from the support position to a rest position where the arm220 is substantially lowered as shown in broken lines in FIG. 14. Therest 310 can include a housing 330 and a reset button 340. The resetbutton and internal components of the rest are arranged to rotate aboutand/or move relative to the rest axis RA2. The housing 330 also caninclude a redirector 333 so that a cord 96 extending upwardly to amovable bow component can translate movement of that component torotation of the reset button 340. This rest also includes a support arm220. The support arm is different from those of the embodiments above inthat it moves generally linearly in a vertical plane upon actuation. Forexample, it moves from the support position shown in solid lines to thedown position shown in broken lines. The operation and the resetting ofthis rest is similar to that of the embodiments noted above.

Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,”“upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are usedto assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of theembodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional termsshould not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specificorientation(s).

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention.Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from thespirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles ofpatent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure ispresented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as anexhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limitthe scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated ordescribed in connection with these embodiments. For example, and withoutlimitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may bereplaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similarfunctionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes,for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those thatmight be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternativeelements that may be developed in the future, such as those that oneskilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative.Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features thatare described in concert and that might cooperatively provide acollection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to onlythose embodiments that include all of these features or that provide allof the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly setforth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in thesingular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” isnot to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Anyreference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant toinclude any one of X, Y or Z individually, and any combination of X, Yand Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; and Y, Z.

1. A drop away arrow rest for an archery bow, the bow including abowstring, the rest comprising: a bracket configured to attach to thebow; an arrow support arm joined with the bracket, the arrow support armmovable from a support position to a rest position, the arrow supportarm having a rest axis, the arrow support arm rotatable about the restaxis; and a reset button joined with a shaft that is aligned with therest axis of the arrow support arm, the reset button operable to convertthe rest from a first mode, in which the shaft is rotationally fixedrelative to the support arm so that the shaft and support arm rotate inunison, to a second mode, in which the shaft is rotationally decoupledrelative to the support arm so that the shaft and support arm do notrotate in unison, wherein the reset button is manually moveable by auser without the use of tools so that the user can move the reset buttonthereby converting the rest from the first mode in which the support armis in a rest position, to the second mode in which the support arm is inthe support position.
 2. The drop away arrow rest of claim 1 comprisinga first bias member joined with the reset button and another, secondbias member joined with the support arm, wherein the second bias memberexerts a force on the support arm urging the support arm to the supportposition.
 3. The drop away arrow rest of claim 2 wherein the first biasmember is adapted to compress as the rest converts from the first modeto the second mode.
 4. The drop away arrow rest of claim 3 whereinmanual depression of the reset button compresses the first bias member,wherein the shaft moves longitudinally along and parallel to the restaxis as the rest converts from the first mode to the second mode.
 5. Thedrop away arrow rest of claim 1 wherein the reset button isnon-rotatable relative to the shaft in the first mode so that it rotateswith the shaft, in the first mode.
 6. The drop away arrow rest of claim1 wherein the support arm is joined with a support arm body, wherein thesupport arm body includes a first engagement member, wherein the shaftincludes a second engagement member, wherein the second engagementmember engages the first engagement member to rotationally fix the shaftrelative to the support arm when the rest is in the first mode, whereinthe second engagement member disengages the first engagement member torotationally decouple the shaft relative to the support arm when therest is in the second mode.
 7. The drop away arrow rest of claim 6wherein the first engagement member is a recess and the secondengagement member is a corresponding tab that selectively interfitswithin the recess.
 8. The drop away arrow rest of claim 1 comprising areset spring and a support arm spring distal from one another, the resetspring adapted to selectively rotate the shaft, the support arm springadapted to selectively rotate the support arm.
 9. The drop away arrowrest of claim 1 comprising a reset spring adapted to selectively rotatethe shaft, wherein the reset spring is compressible along a longitudinalspring axis when the reset button is manually moved by the user.
 10. Thedrop away arrow rest of claim 1 wherein the rest axis is substantiallyperpendicular to an axis of an arrow supported on the support arm whenthe support arm is in the support position.
 11. A drop away arrow restfor an archery bow, the rest comprising: a bracket; a housing joinedwith the bracket; a shaft mount body joined with the housing, the shaftmount body defining a hole; a shaft rotatably mounted in the hole; areset button rotatably fixed to the shaft so that the reset buttonrotates when the shaft rotates, the reset button manually operablewithout the use of tools; a reset spring adapted to selectively rotatethe shaft; an arrow support arm extending away from the housing, thearrow support arm movable from a support position to a rest position;and a support arm spring distal from the reset spring and adapted toselectively move the support arm to at least one of the support positionand the rest position, whereby manual operation of the reset buttonenables the support arm to move from the rest position to the supportposition.
 12. The drop away arrow rest of claim 11 wherein the resetspring is coupled to the shaft mount body and to the reset button,wherein the reset spring exerts a first rotational force on at least oneof the shaft mount body and the reset button.
 13. The drop away arrowrest of claim 12 comprising a cord adapted for attachment to a bowcomponent, the cord adapted to selectively exert a cord force thatcounters the first rotational force.
 14. The drop away arrow rest ofclaim 11 wherein the support arm is joined with a first engagementmember and the shaft is joined with a second engagement member, whereinthe second engagement member engages the first engagement member torotationally fix the shaft relative to the support arm when the rest isin a first mode, wherein the second engagement member disengages thefirst engagement member to rotationally decouple the shaft relative tothe support arm when the rest is in a second mode so that the supportarm can rotate freely relative to shaft.
 15. The drop away arrow rest ofclaim 11 wherein the support arm is movable in a vertical plane, withoutrotating.
 16. The drop away arrow rest of claim 11 comprising a restaxis about which the support arm is rotatable, wherein the rest axis issubstantially parallel to an axis of an arrow supported on the supportarm when the support arm is in the support position.
 17. The drop awayarrow rest of claim 11 comprising a first containment arm joined withthe housing the first containment arm extending above the support armwhen the support arm is in the support position, wherein an arrowsupported by the support arm in the support position is substantiallysurrounded by at least one of the support arm and the containment arm,whereby the arrow is at least one of impaired and prevented from fallingoff the support arm in the support position.
 18. A drop away arrow restcomprising: a bracket configured to attach to a bow; an arrow supportarm joined with the bracket, the arrow support arm movable from asupport position to a rest position, a shaft adjacent the support arm; areset button joined with the shaft, the reset button manually operablewithout the use of tools to convert the rest from a first mode to asecond mode; a reset spring adapted to selectively move the shaft; asupport arm spring distal from the reset spring and adapted toselectively move the support arm to at least one of the support positionand the rest position; a first engagement member joined with the supportarm; and a second engagement member joined with the shaft, wherein thesecond engagement member engages the first engagement member torotationally fix the shaft relative to the support arm when the rest isin the first mode, wherein the second engagement member disengages thefirst engagement member to rotationally decouple the shaft relative tothe support arm when the rest is in the second mode so that the supportarm can move relative to shaft.
 19. The drop away arrow rest of claim 18wherein the first engagement member is a recess and the secondengagement member is a corresponding tab that selectively interfitswithin the recess, thereby rotationally fixing the shaft relative to thesupport arm.
 20. The drop away arrow rest of claim 18 comprising a firstcontainment arm joined with the bracket, the first containment armextending above the support arm when the support arm is in the supportposition, wherein an arrow supported by the support arm in the supportposition is substantially surrounded by at least one of the support armand the containment arrow, whereby the arrow is at least one of impairedand prevented from falling off the support arm in the support position.21. A drop away arrow rest comprising: a bracket configured to attach toa bow; an arm joined with the bracket and located so as to at least oneof support an arrow and at least partially contain an arrow; and abumper fixedly joined with the arm so that the bumper faces toward thearrow, the bumper adapted to at least one of reduce friction between thearm and the arrow, and to attenuate at least one of noise and vibrationupon contact of the arrow with the arm, the bumper located so that itprevents the arrow from contacting the arm, wherein at least one of thearm and the bumper includes a male connector, and the other of the atleast one of the arm and the bumper includes a female connector, whereinthe male connector engages the female connector to fixedly, mechanicallyjoin the bumper with the arm, but enables the bumper to be removed fromthe arm manually, without the use of tools.
 22. The drop away arrow restof claim 21 wherein the arm is at least one of an arrow support armjoined with the bracket, the arrow support arm movable from a supportposition to a rest position, and an arrow containment arm, adapted toextend at least one of above and below the arrow.
 23. The drop awayarrow rest of claim 21 wherein the bumper includes the male connector inthe form of a ridge extending along a length of the bumper, wherein thearm includes a groove extending along a length of the arm, wherein theridge interfits in the groove.
 24. The drop away arrow rest of claim 21wherein the male connector at least one of snap fits into and slideslongitudinally into the female connector to join the bumper and the arm.25. The drop away arrow rest of claim 21 wherein the male connector isin the form of a ridge, and the female connector is in the form of agroove, wherein the ridge interfits into the groove to mechanically jointhe bumper and the arm without the use of an adhesive.